Coin-controlled apparatus.



A. GERSTENKORN. COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1909.

jivcnior ZW74%W Patented May 17, 1910.

ANDREW B. GRAHAM :0. PNOTOUTNUGRAFPFFAV UNITED STATES ATENT prion ADOLPH GERSTENKORN, OF MOORFLETH, NEAR HAMBURG, GERMANY.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1'7, 1910.

Original application filed December 11, 1908, Serial No. 467,011. Divided and this application filed August To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPH GERsTENKoRN, a citizen of Hamburg, and resident of No. 19 Moorfleth, near Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, merchant, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a coin controlled apparatus, designed for actuating a device for stamping letters, postcards and other postal matter, which forms the subject matter of a separate application, filed December 11th 1908, Serial No. 467,001, from which the present application has been divided off.

Special objects of the invention are to simplify and cheapen the construction and to render more efficient serviceable and durable in operation devices ofthe kind referred to.

IVith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination, arrangement and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter explained, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically set out in the appended claims.

In the drawings is shown, by way of example, one mode of carrying into practice the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the apparatuswith its constituent parts in the position of rest. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus with its constituent parts in working position. Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 1.

In a box like receptacle, which may be integral with, or attached to a letter box in any convenient manner and position and which is provided with a slot easily accessible for the insertion of the coins, but which is not shown, is arranged a coin chute 1, leading to a slot 2. The coin is received in this slot 2 standing on edge on the base plate 3 and effects the coupling between the pull rod 5, fitted with a handle or finger ring 4, and the bar 6 for actuating the stamping device, which will be described later on.

The bar 6 is attached by a joint pin 17 to a slide 18. This slide 18 is rectilineally guided above the base plate 3 by means of the pins 19 engaging a slot in the wall 20 of the casing. The pull rod 5 penetrates through a hole in a lateral extension 21 at the front end of the slide 18 in alinement with the latter and carries at its extremity a block 23, fixed by means of the screw 22.

Serial No. 511,214.

The space between this block 23 and the lateral extension 21 forms the coin receiving slot 2 and enables the coupling of the pull rod 5 and the slide bar 6 to be efiected by the coin. On pulling the rod 5 by the finger ring 4 without previously inserting a coin suitable for actuating the stamping apparatus, the block 23 moves up to the extension 21, thus closing up the coin receiving slot 2. Continued pulling then causes both rods 5 and 6 to move outward without offering the possibility of effectively actuating the stamping mechanism, the stroke of the stamp, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, having been reduced, so as to prevent it reaching the letter or other postal matter to be stamped.

On inserting the proper coin, which may be made to pass a coin tester of suitable construct-ion but which is not shown, the coupling between the pull rod 5 and the slide .bar 6, effected by the coin standing in the slot 2, is maintained as long as the coin is supported on the base plate 3. An abutment 29 of the pull rod 5 terminates the out ward movement of the latter when the coin has reached an aperture in the base plate 3 and has therefore been deprived of its support, so that the coin can drop down through the aperture into a suitable receptacle. A spring 7 returns the rod 5 to its normal position. By virtue of the block 23 bearing against the slide 18, the latter, and the rod 6 in pivotal connection therewith, follow the return movement of the rod 5.

In order to prevent fraudulent use of the apparatus by retaining the coin in the slot 2, which might be efiected by a sudden pull and push at the moment the stamping action takes place, a knocking roller 14 for forcing the coin out of the slot 2 is mounted on a lever 16. A spring 15 constantly tends to force this lever 16 and consequently the knocking roller 14 downward. On the outward movement of the pull rod 5 a wedge or cam 24 at the front end of the slide 18, raises the knocking roller 14 and afterward liberates it at the moment the abutment 29 looks the rod 5 against further outward movement. The roller 14 thus released is jerked downward under the force of the spring 15, and forcibly knocks the coin out of the slot 2 and through the aperture in the base plate 3, thus rendering perfectly futile any attempt at fraudulent use of the apparatus.

Should the postal fee amount to a sum requiring the repeated actuation of the coin freed apparatus to obtain a plurality of stamp impressions to cover that sum, it is immaterial for the proper action, if several coins are inserted simultaneously, every chance of the coins prematurely inserted, interfering with the proper action of the apparatus being removed by a tail piece 25 on the slide 18 retaining the superfluous coins inside the chute 1 until their time for action arrives. One by one these coins drop into the slot 2 and perform their duty.

To render intelligible the scope of the invention, a description of the stamping device to be actuated by the coin controlled apparatus will now be given. A stamp 8, showing on its under surface the letters, signs and numerals for producing the desired or required impression, which letters, signs and numerals may be adjustable or interchangeable in a manner well known in connection with stamps of this kind, is attached in any convenient way to a vertical arm 9, which starts from an upward bend 12 of the slide rod 6. A crank or radius arm 10 pivoted at 13 to the bent portion 12 of the rod 6 and having its fulcrum or pivot suitably arranged in the box, which houses the entire stamping device, directs the stamp on a curvilinear course during the to and fro motion of the rod 6. The stamp normally rests on the inking pad 26 and is raised therefrom on moving the rod 6. At the forward termination of the curvilinear movement, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the stamp 8 causes an impression to be made on the letter, post card. or other postal matter, it having been stated in the preamble to this specification, that the invention is preferably applied for post paying letters, postcards and other postal matter by a direct impression of a stamp, thus obviating the necessity of going to the post office in person in order to purchase a stamp or stamps. The impression produced by the stamp 8 is indicative of the receipt of the postal fee. A slot 11 in the box housing the stamping apparatus serves for pushing the letter or other postal matter to be post paid, upon a pad for the proper action of the stamp 8.

Auxiliary springs 27, 28 serve to assist the springs 15 and 7 and to retain the perpetual utility of the apparatus should one or the other of the springs be worn or broken.

IVhile I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form or position without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as are included within the scope of the following claims, or of mechanical equivalents to the structure set forth.

WVhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a coin controlled apparatus of the nature set forth the combination of a pull rod 5, a slide 6 for actuating the stamping device, a coin operated coupling between the said pull rod 5 and the slide 6, a wedge or cam 24 in connection with the pull rod 5, and a spring influenced knocking roller 1 L above the opening leading to the coin receptacle, said wedge or cam 24 and the knocking roller 14 cooperating in forcibly ejecting the coin from its coupling position, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a coin controlled apparatus of the nature set forth the combination of a pull rod 5, a slide 6 for actuating the stamping device, a coin-operated coupling between the said pull rod 5 and the slide 6, a wedge or cam 24: in connection with the pull rod 5, a spring influenced knocking roller 14: above the opening leading to the coin receptacle, said wedge or cam 24 and the knocking roller 1-1 cooperating in forcibly ejecting the coin from its coupling position and a tail 25 attached to the slide 6 to retain the prematurely inserted coins in the chute 1, so as to prevent them from interfering with the proper action of the preceding coin, substan-. tially as described and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 22d day of July 1909, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPH GERSTENKORN.

Witnesses ERNEST H. L. MUuMENHorF, IDA CHRIST HAFERMANN. 

